Vehicle rear body structure

Abstract

A rear body structure of an automotive vehicle includes a roof side rail disposed at an upper end of the body structure and extends longitudinally in a vehicle body. A belt line reinforcement is located downward of and extending substantially parallel with the roof side rail. A center pillar structure extends in up and down directions and is attached to the roof side rail at an upper end and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end and a lower end of the center pillar structure. A rear pillar structure extending in the up and down directions is located rearward of the center pillar structure and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end and to a lower end of the rear pillar structure. A quarter pillar member extending in the up and down directions is located between the center pillar and the rear pillar and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end and a lower end of the quarter pillar member. A quarter pillar reinforcement is mounted on the quarter pillar member and is attached to the roof side rail at an upper end of the quarter pillar reinforcement and to the belt line reinforcement at a lower end of the quarter pillar reinforcement.

We claim: 
     
       1. A rear body structure of an automotive vehicle comprising a vehicle body,   a roof side rail disposed at an upper end of the vehicle body and extending longitudinally in the vehicle body,   a belt line reinforcement located downward of and extending substantially parallel with said roof side rail,   a center pillar structure extending in up and down directions and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end of the center pillar structure and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end of the center pillar structure and a lower end of the center pillar structure,   a rear pillar structure extending in the up and down directions, located rearward of the center pillar structure, and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end of the rear pillar structure and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end of the rear pillar structure and a lower end of the rear pillar structure,   a quarter pillar member extending in the up and down directions, located between the center pillar structure and the rear pillar structure, and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end of the quarter pillar member and to the belt line reinforcement intermediate of the upper end of the quarter pillar member and a lower end of the quarter pillar member,   a quarter pillar reinforcement mounted on the quarter pillar member and attached to the roof side rail at an upper end of the quarter pillar reinforcement and to the belt line reinforcement at a lower end of the quarter pillar reinforcement,   a wheel housing for covering a vehicle wheel,   a suspension reinforcement extending in the up and down directions, disposed in an overlapped relationship with the quarter pillar member and the quarter pillar reinforcement, and integrally joined with the quarter pillar reinforcement and the quarter pillar member at an upper end portion of the suspension reinforcement and with the wheel housing at a lower end of the suspension reinforcement,   a center pillar reinforcement mounted on the center pillar, said belt line reinforcement being attached to the center pillar reinforcement at a front end portion of the center pillar reinforcement, and   a rear pillar reinforcement mounted on the rear pillar structure, said belt line reinforcement being attached to the rear pillar reinforcement at a rear end of the rear pillar reinforcement.   
     
     
       2. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the quarter pillar reinforcement is aligned with the suspension reinforcement with regard to the up and down direction. 
     
     
       3. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising inner panel means for forming an inner panel structure of the rear body structure, outer panel means for forming an outer side panel structure of the rear body structure, the inner panel means being connected with the outer panel means to form the center pillar structure, the quarter pillar member and the rear pillar structure. 
     
     
       4. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the inner panel means comprises a front inner panel and a rear inner panel, the front inner panel being connected with the rear inner panel at a position where the quarter pillar member is located. 
     
     
       5. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein the front inner panel is connected with a front portion of the rear inner panel at a rear end of the front inner panel in an overlapped relationship with each other to form a single recess by incorporation together. 
     
     
       6. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein said quarter pillar reinforcement is fixed to the inner panel means at said position. 
     
     
       7. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 6, comprising a seat belt anchor secured to said quarter pillar reinforcement. 
     
     
       8. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein the rear inner panel is provided with an extension extending forwardly across the quarter pillar member. 
     
     
       9. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the suspension reinforcement is connected with the inner panel means to form a closed cross-sectioned structure. 
     
     
       10. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said suspension reinforcement extends upwardly across said belt line reinforcement and is terminated in said quarter pillar member. 
     
     
       11. A rear body structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said suspension reinforcement is provided with and upper extension which extends upwardly beyond said belt line reinforcement and is terminated in aid quarter pillar member, the suspension reinforcement being connected with the belt line reinforcement, and the upper extension being connected with the quarter pillar member.